Pages

Monday, July 17, 2017

Some Good News And A Glance At The PSPT Rooftop

Hello lovelies, remember about the project that contacted me before Ramadhan? Well, it's official now. I'm working for the project, which is about an off-grid community-owned renewable energy project in Sumba island. I'm still based in Jakarta, with possible trips to Sumba. One of the best things about this project is the Jakarta office is located in Tebet.

I've always had a soft spot for Tebet, a pocket of residential area in South Jakarta. Its circling roads, round-about housing blocks and lush gardens make a perfect modern-day labyrinth. People say that if you walk straight in Tebet, it is very possible that you return to the first spot. Street names and number may confound first-time visitors to the area, there are Tebet Raya, Tebet Timur, Tebet Timur Dalam, Tebet Dalam and God knows what.

Another memories about this district was when I first entered the working life, M took me to Pasar PSPT (PSPT Market) in East Tebet to shop for work wear. Therefore, I was very excited to read about the revitalization of the market. Inaugurated in April 2017, it is called The PSPT Rooftop and had the similar concept of the hipster hub Pasar Santa. After all, the news and reviews had been positive, such as this and this.

Long story short, I arrived at the place. Taking the three flights of stairs was not a problem, but imagine my surprise when I found that the place was quite empty and I was the only patron. I thought it was because I came at 5 p.m. But apparently, the cafe I intended to sample (Agrikultur Cafe) had closed down. I couldn't even find it there.

I was still in the midst of Syawal fasting, so I took some photos around before placing an order. I decided to break the fast with tongseng kambing (goat meat soup) at Kedai Gulai Rantau and a glass of dragon fruit-sour sop fruit smoothies. The food and the drink were nice, and the prices were reasonable. It was just so unfortunate that this place could not live up to its name.

Trivia: Do you know what PSPT stands for? Some people joke about it, saying that it stands for 'Pasar Setelah Pasar Tebet' (The Market after Tebet Market). There are two traditional markets in Tebet, one in West Tebet and another in East Tebet. The one in East Tebet owns a football club of Persatuan Sepakbola Pasar Tebet (Tebet Market Football Club/PSPT). Therefore to differentiate it with the West Tebet Market, it has been called Pasar PSPT.

Anyway, Tebet has been known for its culinary scene, so expect more food photos in the upcoming posts. On the first day of work in Tebet, I have made a pact to sample as much food as I can during my tenure here. Hmm, talking about grit...:)